Introduction to the Harvest Chapters
“Much study has gone into the interpretation of Chapters 14 through 19 with greatly varying results. To attempt to decide which interpretations may be correct, it is probably helpful to attempt to draw a BIG PICTURE of these chapters — an overview which allows us to perceive order and reason in the sequence of Harvest pictures. Large contexts are as important as small contexts when it comes to interpretation.
As varied as Chapters 14 through 19 are in their content and symbolism's, they DO all have ONE THING in common. Each of the five Harvest views presented has as its climax the final, total overthrow and destruction of Babylon. Realizing this, we can WORK BACKWARDS from each of these climaxes to see how each Harvest perspective is related to this common event.
The Five Accounts of Babylon’s Total and Final Destruction
1) In Rev 14:19, 20, Babylon is destroyed in the “wine press” picture.
Preceding this we see that Rev 14:6-18 SPECIALIZES in the perspective of how the harvest work leads up to this destruction.
2) In Rev 16:19-21, Babylon is destroyed in the “Seventh Plague” picture.
Preceding this we see that Rev 15:1-16:18 SPECIALIZES in the perspective of how various events (vials full of plagues of wrath) lead up to this destruction.
3) In Rev 17:16, Babylon is destroyed by being devoured and burned by the ten horns and a beast.
Preceding this we see that Rev 17:1-15 SPECIALIZES in the perspective of how the world’s powers and peoples re-align themselves against Babylon leading up to this destruction.
4) In Rev 18:21-24, Babylon is destroyed in the “great millstone” picture.
Preceding this we see that Rev 18:4-20 SPECIALIZES in the perspective of how various political and economic entities deal with Babylon’s loss of prestige and power since 1878 leading up to this total destruction.
5) In Rev 19:20, Babylon is destroyed by being cast alive into the lake of fire.
Preceding this we see that Rev 19:11-19 SPECIALIZES in the perspective of how the Lord and His saints cooperate in the “battle” which leads up to this destruction.
Several items are noteworthy. The five repetitions of the Harvest are there to show us five different perspectives of the period. This helps us, by comparing and by contrasting these perspectives, to see where we are on the stream of time and to see what should happen next. All five of these views begin near the opening of the harvest and climax with Babylon’s total destruction.
One of them goes BEYOND the destruction to show the rejoicing. (Rev 19:1-10.)
All perspectives DO NOT MENTION all of the factors present in the other perspectives.
For example, Chapter 18 does not show why or how Babylon is cast into the sea. Chapter 17 shows that this final event comes from the horns and the beast’s hating her; but Chapter 18 is silent on this factor. We can, with clear conscience, INSERT the ideas of Rev 17:16 JUST BEFORE (or as PART OF) Rev 18:21.
Chapter 17 is SILENT on who it is that throws the grapes into the vat. Chapter 17 is FOCUSING on horns and beast. But we can, again with clear conscience, INSERT the events of Rev 14:19 into the concept of Rev 17:16. We thus get a COMPLETE picture. Failure to do this comparison and insertion dooms us to incorrect and foolish conclusions. Careful comparison and insertion allow us to see what ALL SEGMENTS of society are doing during the complicated times of this century.
Now in regards to our study of Chapter 14, this Chapter divides nicely into three main sections:
Verses 6-12, Verses 13, 14, and Verses 15-20. Jesus appears in the middle of these sections; three angels appear in the first section and three more in the final section.
VERSES 6–12
The three angels here represent THREE PARTS OF THE HARVEST MESSAGE. Notice the increasing import of their messages:
The first PREACHES; the second CONDEMNS; the third WARNS. The progression of thought is very much as is our individual, personal experience in finding the Harvest truths.
FIRST, we HEAR the message;
NEXT, we see clearly the FILTHY (erroneous) DOCTRINE of historical “Christianity” (orthodoxy, the professing church);
FINALLY, we realize clearly our RESPONSIBILITY in separation (from Babylon, its practice and teachings), and in the DANGERS involved if we remain a part of what God has cast off.” (i.e., refusing to leave we shall share in her sins and in the plagues coming upon her, Rev 18:4)
(Excerpts here taken from The New Albany Notes on Revelation)
We will begin with Revelation Chapter 14 beginning with Verse 6 in our next post.
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